Wed 09 June 2010:
With less than a month to go
until our departure, Esther McCall spent her half
term break (using funds from her Winston Churchill
Travel Fellow) on an inspection visit in
Zambia.
Primarily there to see how work
was progressing on the pre-school building and
medical centre, another aim was to establish exactly
what needs doing elsewhere and to source materials
for the project phase of our expedition. Esther
also met with local officials and the press to
discuss arrangements for our handover ceremony
in August. The photo (left) was taken
with the District Commissioner.
Apparently the new pre-school
already has 70 children signed up to attend once
it is open.
Below are a few other photos
taken during the visit. For a larger view, please
click on the thumbnail images.
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Mon 05
July 2010 : 14.00hrs
With mounting excitement students met
for a brief question and answer session, kit check and
bag weigh in. Extra supplies e.g. saws, tubs of building
nails, t-shirts for the children at Twabuka School etc
were also distributed amongst the bags.
Tue 06 July 2010 : 16.00hrs
Students take a last look at the school.
Next stop Heathrow!
Tue 06 July 2010 : 17.30hrs
It looks as if the departure of BA057 is going to be
delayed by 75 minutes and is currently scheduled to be
departing at 10.30 pm (instead of 9.15 pm).
Tue 06 July 2010 : 22.35hrs
GMT : Bon Voyage
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At 22.28hrs (73 minutes later than scheduled)
Flight BA057 departed Heathrow Terminal 5 headed
for Johannesburg. After all the months of planning
and preparation the team are finally on their
way! With an estimated flight time of 10 hours
and 50 mins they are currently due to land at
10.12hrs (local time) tomorrow morning.
(left ~ a photo of their plane)
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Wed
07 July 2010 : 09.20hrs GMT
Students and Staff have (at long last) arrived
at Johannesburg! The flight finally touched down at 10.02hrs
local time (09.02hrs GMT) 57 minutes later than
scheduled. Everyone now has about an hour to
stretch their legs before boarding their onward flight
to Windhoek. Flight BA 6275 is presently on time with
no delays reported.
Wed 07 July 2010 : 12.10hrs
GMT
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BA 6275 departed for Windhoek at 12.38hrs (local
time). With a flight time of 2 hours it won't
be long now until everyone is back on terra firma.
On arrival they will be met by Alan and Oriel
of Nomad African Travel. Please note Namibia time
is the same as GMT.
(A photo taken from the tarmac
at J'burg)
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After the 5,617 miles from London to Johannesburg, this
next leg of just 737 miles will feel like a mere hop,
skip and a jump!
Wed 07 July 2010 : 13.50hrs
As Confucius said "A journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step" and our young explorers
are now stepping out on Namibian soil having landed a
short while ago at Windhoek. They have already collected
their luggage and there's been something of a record...
every single bag is there... not one has gone missing
(as has been the case with the last 3 expeditions)!
Wed 07 July 2010 : 19.15hrs
: Namibia
Everyone is now safely ensconced in their chalets at
the Arebbusch
Travel Lodge. It is already dark and has
been for over an hour. They are heading out shortly to
eat at the much celebrated Luigi
& The Fish Restaurant in Windhoek where
the more adventurous diners can sample culinary delights
such as 'Masai Sword', 'Fungi Steak' or even 'Fresh Tongue'.
That said there's also Pizza (including a game variety)
and Fish and Chips.
Tomorrow is likely to be an early start, with a 200 mile
drive to Waterberg Plateau. It needs to be borne in mind
that once camped any communication with the UK is going
to be very difficult and it may be a few days before we
hear from them again.
Thur 08 July 2010: 11.42
hrs : Text message
"First view of Waterberg. Most girls had first experience
of visiting the 'powder room' in the bush when stopped.
Apparently was an experience to say the least! Seen warthogs,
vultures, an eagle, guinea fowl, baboons and lots of cows
(LOL). Will lose signal soon." ~
Beth Ellis
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